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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is a higher-priced laptop with a better processor, more memory, a more powerful graphics card, and a display that's more suitable for high-refresh-rate applications with better coverage of color spaces. It is heavier, less portable, and has a shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3. On the other hand, the Slim 3 is more budget-friendly with a still competent processor for everyday tasks, lighter weight, longer battery life, and a touchscreen. If your work involves graphics, 3D rendering, or you need higher performance, go for the Pro 5i. If you prioritize portability, battery life, and a lower cost, the Slim 3 would be the better choice. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
- Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.7
7.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
409.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i with its more powerful processor, higher RAM capacity, and superior graphics card provides better performance, and with a higher-resolution display, it also offers a more vibrant and crisp viewing experience; however, when considering factors like portability and battery life, the lighter and longer-lasting Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, despite its less advanced specifications compared to the Pro 5i, is a practical option for general use, particularly for those prioritizing ease of carrying and longer use on a single charge.
Gaming and AI
7.4
5.9
6.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.1
6.1
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
6.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is very good for engineering and design use due to its higher-performing CPU, double the RAM, more powerful GPU, and superior screen quality, which are crucial for demanding tasks and detailed visuals. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offers lesser performance with an entry-level CPU, half the RAM, integrated graphics, and a lower resolution screen, making it only fair for such specialized tasks but offering better portability and operating noise.
Content Creation
7.7
7.2
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.7
7.1
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.8
6.4
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
409.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The IdeaPad Pro 5i likely has a high-resolution display with good brightness and a superior panel type such as IPS, appealing for everyday tasks and professional design work due to accurate colors and wide viewing angles. Its engineering and design suitability is boosted by covering a broader color gamut, essential for precision in visuals, yet it falls short for gaming and 3D applications as it probably has a lower refresh rate, reducing smoothness and responsiveness. The IdeaPad Slim 3's "fair" screen quality across general use and engineering suggests a competent but less impressive display, which may have reduced brightness and a narrower color gamut, while also lacking the high refresh rates necessary for the best 3D or gaming experience.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has 10 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
7.6
6.5
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$950
$390
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has a price of $950 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 costs $390.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$950 | $390 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.75'' | 14.2'' x 9.3'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.3 lbs | 3.52 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | AMD Ryzen 3 7330U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 75 Wh | 47 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 409 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Brandon Hill | January 2024
"Lenovo’s IdeaPad Pro 5i represents an impressive opening salvo for Meteor Lake in the ultraportable space against familiar foes from AMD and Apple. Not only does the Core Ultra 5 125H processor provide good performance across the board, but battery life remains a strong point against the Acer Swift Edge 16 with its AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor. It can’t quite match the endurance of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the gap is shrinking."
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
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Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | May 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is decent for use as a workstation. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle light productivity tasks, not demanding workloads like video editing or 3D graphics. You also can't do any color-critical work because the available displays have a narrow color gamut. It has a good port selection, but its USB-C lacks Thunderbolt 4 support. On the upside, it has a comfortable keyboard and doesn't get hot or loud under load."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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